Cymbal attachment

ABSTRACT

A cymbal attachment includes a fixed bracket secured to the cymbal mounting bolt, and a second bracket secured to the fixed bracket. The second bracket supports a number of spring arms having weighted cymbal engaging ends. In one position the weighted arm ends engage the cymbal surface, and in another position the arm ends are held spaced from the symbol surface in inoperative position.

United States Patent Garven 1 July 18, 1972 s41 CYMBAL ATTACHMENTFOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS [72] Inventor: Ernest 1- 6 8 RidseviewDrive. 165,677 12/1958 Sweden ..84/422 Edina, Minn. 55435 22 Ffl d; s 3,1970 Primary Examiner-Richard B. Wilkinson Assistant Examiner-John F.Gonzales [21] Appl' 7o08l Attorney-Robert M. Dunning [52] U-S- 0'84/402, 84/453 57 ABSTRACT [51] Int. Cl. Gl0d 13/08 [58] Field of Search..84/402, 421, 422, 453 A cymbal attachment includes a fixed bracketsecured to the cymbal mounting bolt, and a second bracket secured to the[56] References Cited fixed bracket. The second bracket supports anumber of spring arms having weighted cymbal engaging ends. in oneUNlTED STATES PATENTS position the weighted arm ends engage the cymbalsurface, 3,009,379 1 l [1961 Thomas ..84/402 and in another position thearm ends are held spaced from the 3,l4l,370 7/1964 Ross ..84/402 symbolsurface in inoperative position.

479,636 7/1892 Droop.... ..84/402 1,362,271 12/ 1920 Stathopoulos..84/422 7 Claim, 10 Drawing Figures sum 1 or 2 INVENTOR El-PNEST h.GARVE/V ATTORNEY PAIENIwJuuemn 3671127 SHEEI 2 OF 2 INVENTOR f/PNEST H.GAR VE/v I fiwiag ATTORNEY CYMBAL ATTACHMENT This invention relates toan improvement in sizzler and deals particularly with a cymbalattachment designed to produce a new and unusual sizzle like sound.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Devices known to the musical trade assizzlers have been produced for a number of years. These devices varyconsiderably is design, and also in tonal effect. For example, manycymbals have been produced having rivets extending loosely through holesin the edges of the cymbals, these rivets vibrating when the cymbal isstruck so as to produce a sound which is considerably different fromthat produced by an unmodified cymbal. Other such cymbals have beenproduced by loosely mounting washers or other forms of discs near theperiphery of the cymbal, these also producing what is known as asizzling sound when the cymbal is struck. Other modifications of suchdevices have also been employed which vary considerably in design, andalso vary somewhat in sound.

Cymbals of this type have the disadvantage that they only serve a singlepurpose. In other words, the cymbal will not produce the customarycymbal sound, and may only be used when a sizzling effect is desired.This requires that such a cymbal be used in addition to the conventionalcymbal, adding to the already bulky equipment normally used by adrummer, and requiring additional space available to the drummer. Thistends to cause difficulty, particularly where the available stage orplatform is of relatively small size.

Certain attempts have been made to provide effective sizzler attachmentswhich may be secured to a conventional cymbal. One such attachmentincludes a pair of pivotally supported arms mounted on a hub coaxialwith the cymbal and having inverted cup shaped elements designed to restupon the surface of the cymbal. One of the disadvantages of this type ofconstruction lies in the fact that the siuling effect is somewhatlimited by the fact that only two such devices are provided. Thesedevices may be pivoted into or out of engagement with the surface of thecymbal to permit conventional use of the cymbal when desired. However,as the arms supporting the sizzler devices must be individually pivoted,time is required to swing the arms into or out of operative position.Ifthe number of sizzling attachments is increased, this correspondinglyincreases the time and effort required to pivot the supporting arms.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention resides inthe provision of a sizzler which is an attachment to a cymbal, but whichmay be moved into or out of cymbal engaging position with a single swiftmovement. The device may be moved from inoperative position to operativeposition, or vice versa, by a single movement of a drumstick or finger.Thus, the device may be put into or out of operative position withoutinterrupting the rhythm of the drummer.

A further feature of the present invention resides in the provision of adevice of the type described including a supporting bracket whichsupports a plurality of light weight resilient arms. These arms arearranged to vibrate independently of one another so as to provide anunusual tonal effect when the cymbal is struck.

A further feature of the present invention resides in a device of thetype described in which the springs are provided with weighted endswhich engage the surface of the cymbal. As a result, as the cymbal isset into vibration, the springs are in turn vibrated providing an effectwhich is sustained longer than with most previous devices. The springsare sensitive to a very light touch and also to a very heavy touch,permitting a variety of effects to be attained.

A further feature of the invention resides in the fact that theattachment leaves the center bell of the cymbal clear for specialeffects on this portion of the cymbal. Some drummers use this centerbell to produce unusual effects when struck with a drumstick, and thepresent attachment does not this operation.

An object of the present invention resides in the provision of a cymbalattachment having a first bracket portion which may be adjustablymounted on the center bell of the cymbal, and a second bracket which ispivotally secured to the first bracket on a generally horizontal axis.The structure is such that the sizzler may extend in any direction fromthe bell to suit the convenience of the drummer. The thin spring sizzlerarms are connected to the second bracket portion and support weightedends which move into or out of engagement with the surface of the cymbaldepending upon the pivotal position of the second bracket relative tothe first. In preferred form, the second bracket is held in inoperativeposition by simple means such as a permanent magnet mounted on thesecond bracket for engagement with the first bracket when the sizzlerarms are raised. When in operable or cymbal engaging position, themagnet is moved away from the first bracket arm and toward an adjustmentscrew which limits the relative swinging movement between the twobrackets.

An added feature of the present invention resides in the provision of adevice of the type described which is simple to produce. The springsstrips individually extend through slots in a reversely turned flange onone edge of the second bracket and are clamped in place by cars struckfrom the body of the second bracket. The cymbal engaging means comprisesmall metal balls such as bearings which are held to the arms by simpleloop shaped clips. The two brackets are pivotally connected by means ofa pivot member which serves both as a pivot and as a handle by means ofwhich the second bracket may be pivoted.

A further feature of the present invention resides in the fact that theelevation of the weighted ends of the spring arms may be adjusted'by anadjustment screw. With this arrangement, considerably different effectsare available. By supporting the weighted ends of the sizzler armsslightly out of contact with the cymbal, a different effect may beaccomplished over that obtained when the full weight of the secondbracket and the sizzler arms are resting upon the surface of the cymbal.Furthermore, this construction is such that the sizzler arms may bequickly disengaged from the cymbal surface at any time so as toimmediately stop the sizzling effect. The ability to immediately stopthe sizzling action when desired is novel and permits a wide variationof additional effects to be obtained.

These and other objects and novel features of the present invention willbe more clearly and fully set forth in the following specification andclaims.

interfere with BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspectiveview of a cymbal with the sizzler attachment mounted thereupon.

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the cymbal and attachment.

FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the attachment in enlarged form.

FIG. 4 is a side elevational view of the attachment as indicated in FIG.3.

FIG. 5 is a bottom plan view of the attachment removed from the cymbal.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view in enlarged form showing the end of one ofthe spring arms.

FIG. 7 is an end elevational view of the spring arm illustrated in FIG.6.

FIG. 8 is a side elevational view of the arm end shown in FIG. 6.

FIG. 9 is an enlarged bottom plan view of a section of the secondbracket indicatingthe manner in which the spring arms are attached.

FIG. 10 is a detailed sectional view, the position of the sec tion beingindicated by the line 1040 of FIG. 9.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION The cymbal Aillustrated in FIGS. 1, 2 and 4 of the drawings is of conventional form,and may vary somewhat in shape and size. In general, the cymbalcomprises a disc having a concave undersurface and a convex uppersurface. An upwardly domed bell portion 11 is provided at the center ofthe disc 10. A bolt 12 extends upwardly through the center of the domeshaped portion 11 and is encircled by a nut 13 designed to permit adesired amount of movement in the cymbal. A wing nut 12a is normallymounted upon the bolt 12 to hold the cymbal A in position upon asuitable support 13 from which the bolt 12 extends. In view of the factthat the cymbal as well as the cymbal supporting means is well known inthe art, this arrangement is not indicated in any detail.

The cymbal attachment is indicated in general by the letter B, andincludes a first bracket 14 and a second bracket 15 which are pivotallyconnected in a manner which will be described. The bracket 14 comprisesan elongated strip 16 of metal or other suitable material includingapertures 17 designed to accommodate the cymbal mounting bolt 12. Thestrip 16 is transversely curved or arcuated as indicated at 19 to form abearing for the pivot which will be described. The extremity of the arminclines upwardly and rearwardly relative to the end of the stripcontaining the aperture 17. This upwardly inclined portion 20 terminatesin an offset end portion 21 which includes a threaded aperture toaccommodate an adjustment bolt 22. A spring 23 preferably encircles thebolt 22 and extends between the arm end 21 and the bolt head 24 to holdthe adjustment bolt from rotation due to vibration or the like.

The bracket portion 15 comprises a generally trapezoidal sheet or plateof flat metal or the like as indicated at 25 having a reversely turnedflange 26 (see FIGS. 5 and 9) which extends generally parallel to thetrapezoidal body 25 and which is connected thereto along the longerparallel edge of the trapezoidal plate. The folded edge 27 connectingthe plate edge of the plate 25 and the flange 26 is apertured at spacedintervals as is indicated at 29. A series of spaced spring fingers orarms 30 extend through the apertures 29 and are anchored against theunder surface of the plate 25 by opposed pairs of ears 31 indicated inFIGS. 9 and 10 of the drawings. The pairs of ears 31 are spaced atvarying distances from the folded edge 27 connecting the plate 25 to theflange 26. As a result, even though the spring arms 30 may be of equallength, the portions of the arms which project beyond the folded edge 27of the bracket 15 may be varied. In the particular arrangementillustrated, eight such arms are provided, four of which projectsubstantially beyond the ends of the remaining four arms. Obviously,however, the number of arms may be varied, and the length of the armsmay also be varied quite materially. The arms 30 extend in outwarddivergent or fan-shaped relation.

The bracket 15 is supported by a pair of parallel arms 33 havinghook-shaped ends 34 which engage over the folded edge 27. The arms 33are provided with cars 35 which extend through apertures in the plate 25(see FIG. 5) and are bent or deformed to securely clamp the plate to thearms. The arms 33 project well beyond the supporting plate 25, and areproperly spaced to straddle portions of the bracket strap 16.

As is indicated in FIGS. 3 and 5 of the drawings, a U-shaped handle 36has an arm 37 which extends through intennediate portions of theparallel arms 33 and through the bearing provided by the loop shapedportion 19 of the bracket 14. The arm 37 of the U-shaped member 36 thusforms a pivotal connection between the brackets 14 and 15. The otherparallel arm 39 of the U-shaped bracket 36 extends through apertures inthe extremities of the arms 33 which are most remote from the hookshaped ends 34. The ends of the U-shaped handle 36 and other portions ofthe arms 37 and 39 may be upset or enlarged slightly to hold the handlein place. The U-shaped handle thus pivots with the bracket portion 15and may be engaged by a drumstick or by a finger to pivot the bracket Bfrom one extreme position to another.

An inverted channel 40 extends transversely between the arms 33 near theleg 39 of the handle 36. The channel 40 is provided with projecting ears41 which extend through the anus 33 to hold the channel in place. Thechannel 40 includes a permanent magnet 42. The bracket 14 is made ofmagnetic material so that the magnet 42 is capable of holding thebracket B with the spring arms 30 in an elevated position as indicatedin FIG. 4 of the drawings. However, when manually pivoted to the otherextreme position indicated in dotted outline in FIG. 4 of the drawings,the magnetic field is not sufficiently strong to swing the bracket 15back into its inoperative position.

The ends of the arms 30 preferably support metal balls 43 which areadapted to strike the surface of the cymbal A. End portions of the arms30 are preferably upwardly bowed as indicated at 44 to generally fit thecurvature of the upper surface of the ball 43. A generally rectangularloop 45 is bent into U-shaped form, the ends 46 of the loop extendingover the arm 30 on opposite sides of the upwardly bowed portion 44, andthe intermediate portions thereof looped downwardly as indicated at 47to engage against the sides of the ball 43 beneath the center thereof.The ends 49 of the arms 30 are then bent upwardly to hold the partsassembled. When assembled the loops 45 support the balls 43 in themanner illustrated in the drawings.

The attachment B, when in use, is mounted upon the cymbal supportingbolt 12, and held in place by the cymbal supporting nut 12a. Theresilient arms 30 on the supporting bracket 15 may be pivoted relativeto the bracket 14 which is held in fixed position. When in loweredposition, as the cymbal A is struck with a drumstick or the like, theball ends 43 of the spring arms 30 vibrate against the surface of thecymbal and produce an extremely effective sizzling sound. Due to thefact that the weighted ends of the weighted end 43 are mounted upon thinresilient arms 30, the siuling sound is maintained long after the cymbalis struck. At the same time, the weighted ends 43 may be immediatelywithdrawn from the surface of the cymbal by merely pivoting the bracketportion 15 out of engagement with the cymbal. When in raised position,the bracket is held inoperative by the magnet 42. The channel 40 servesthe double purpose of enclosing the magnet 42, and also as a stop forlimiting the pivotal movement of the bracket B by engagement with theadjustment bolt 22.

In accordance with the Patent Statutes, l have described the principlesof construction and operation of my sizzler attachment and while I haveendeavored to set forth the best embodiment thereof, it should beunderstood that obvious changes may be made within the scope of theclaims without departing from the spirit of my invention.

We claim:

1. A cymbal attachment including:

a first bracket having an aperture for attachment to a cymbal support,

a second bracket pivotally connected to the first bracket for swingingmovement toward and away from the cymbal,

a series of resilient arms supported at one end by said second bracketand extending in a direction away from the cymbal support, and

weighted ends on the other ends of said resilient arms.

2. The structure of claim 1 and including releasable means holding saidsecond bracket in its position away from said cymbal.

3. The structure of claim 2 and in which said releasable means includesa magnet on one of said bracket engageable with the other bracket whensaid second bracket is in its position away from said cymbal.

4. The structure of claim 1 and in which said resilient arms compriseflat strips of resilient material.

5. The structure of claim 1 and including adjustable means for limitingthe pivotal movement of said second bracket toward said cymbal.

6. The structure of claim 1 and in which said weighted ends compriseballs engageable with the cymbal surface.

7. The structure Of claim 6 and including generally rectangular loopshaving ends overlying said arms, and having intermediate generallyU-shaped portions engaging said balls.

1. A cymbal attachment including: a first bracket having an aperture forattachment to a cymbal support, a second bracket pivotally connected tothe first bracket for swinging movement toward and away from the cymbal,a series of resilient arms supported at one end by said second bracketand extending in a direction away from the Cymbal support, and weightedends on the other ends of said resilient arms.
 2. The structure of claim1 and including releasable means holding said second bracket in itsposition away from said cymbal.
 3. The structure of claim 2 and in whichsaid releasable means includes a magnet on one of said bracketengageable with the other bracket when said second bracket is in itsposition away from said cymbal.
 4. The structure of claim 1 and in whichsaid resilient arms comprise flat strips of resilient material.
 5. Thestructure of claim 1 and including adjustable means for limiting thepivotal movement of said second bracket toward said cymbal.
 6. Thestructure of claim 1 and in which said weighted ends comprise ballsengageable with the cymbal surface.
 7. The structure of claim 6 andincluding generally rectangular loops having ends overlying said arms,and having intermediate generally U-shaped portions engaging said balls.